L  I.  B 

OF  ~THL 
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630.7 


rxo.49-60 


AGRICULTURE 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 


URBANA,  APRIL,    1900. 


BULLETIN    No.    58. 


COMPOSITION  AND  DIGESTIBILITY  OF  CORN-FODDER  AND 

CORN  STOVER. 

[For  explanations  of  technical  terms  and  information  concerning  the  uses  of  food 
constituents  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  appendix  to  Bulletin  No.  43  ] 

In  each  of  the  following  series  of  experiments  four  grade  shorthorn 
steers  were  employed.  They  are  designated  in  this  Bulletin  as  No.  i, 
No.  2,  No.  3,  and  No.  4.  They  were  about  two  years  old  and  weighed 
at  the  beginning  and  close  of  the  experiments  as  follows: 

TABLE  i.     WEIGHT  OF  STEERS  IN  POUNDS. 


Date. 

Steer 
No.  i. 

Steer 

No.  2. 

Steer 
No.  3. 

Steer 
No.  4. 

Average. 

February  22  1897  

1018 

1038 

QO4 

II  12 

1018 

March  27,  1897  

IOOO 

1015 

885 

1126 

1007 

In  general  the  methods  of  feeding,  collecting,  sampling,  and  analyz- 
ing were  the  same  as  reported  in  Bulletin  No.  43. 

Each  experiment  was  conducted  for  a  period  of  ten  days,  after  one 
week  of  preliminary  feeding.  Two  composite  samples  were  made  of 
feed,  of  refuse,  and  of  dung  from  each  steer,  one  set  of  samples  being 
for  a  period  of  four  days  and  the  other  for  a  period  of  six  days.  Data 
were  thus  obtained  for  determining  the  digestibility  of  the  foods  by  each 
steer  for  those  two  consecutive  periods,  as  well  as  for  the  full  period  of 
ten  days. 


362 


BULLETIN    NO.     58. 


[April, 


DIGESTIBILITY  OF  CORN-FODDER. 

In  a  former  series  of  digestion  experiments  the  digestibility  of  corn- 
fodder  was  studied,  but,  as  stated  in  the  report  of  that  work  (Bui.  43, 
p.  198),  the  results  obtained  were  not  entirely  satisfactory.  The  most 
probable  source  of  error  was  found  to  be  the  more  or  less  imperfect 
mastication  of  the  grain  by  the  individual  steers.  Other  slight  errors 

TABLE  2.  NUMBER  OF  POUNDS  (BOTH  FRESH  AND  DRY)  OF  CORN-FODDER  FED,  OF 
REFUSE,  AND  OF  DUNG,  FOR  EACH  STEER;  AND  ALSO  THE  PERCENTAGE  COM- 
POSITION OF  THE  DRY  MATTER. 


Date. 

Amounts, 
pounds. 

Composition  of  dry  matter, 
percentages. 

1897.  . 

Fresh 
sub- 
stance. 

Dry 
matter. 

Ash. 

Pro- 
tein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

EACH  STEER. 


Feed  .  . 

Feb.  23—26  

6s.  25 

53-77° 

5  .  13 

8.  ii 

2    IS 

20.44 

64    17 

Feed  .  . 

Feb.  27-March  4  .  . 

99.25 

81.481 

5-09 

7.90 

2.03 

21  .  15 

63.83 

STEER  No.   i. 


Refuse. 

Feb.  23-26  

10.48 

7.  516 

6.21 

S.  IS 

.07 

38.87 

48.84 

Refuse. 

Feb.  27-March  4  .  . 

17.91 

13.013 

6.32 

5  23 

1.05 

38.68 

48.72 

Dung  .  . 

Feb.  24-27  

81.72 

13.833 

1  2.  O2 

15.26 

2.29 

18.19 

S2  .  24 

Dung.  . 

Feb.  28-March  5  .  . 

127.18 

22.327 

11.36 

14.69 

2.65 

17-74 

53-56 

STEER  No.   2. 


Refuse. 

Feb.  23-26.  

21  ,4S 

16.983 

3.46 

9.40 

3.21 

13.91 

7O.O2 

Refuse. 

Feb.  27-March  4  .  . 

29-49 

23.189 

3.22 

8.90 

2.91 

17.21 

67.76 

Dung.  . 

Feb.  24-27  

58.89 

10.995 

13.68 

13.28 

i  .27 

20.93 

50.84 

Dung.  . 

Feb.  28-March  5  .  . 

100.78 

17.739 

13.62 

13-48 

1.38 

21  .46 

50.06 

STEER  No.  3. 


Refuse. 

Feb.  23-26  

0.77 

7.082 

6.84 

6.51 

1.28 

33.97 

51  .40 

Refuse. 

Feb.  27-March  4  .  . 

14.02 

10.056 

5-91 

6.08 

1.24 

36.34 

50.43 

Dung.  . 

Feb.  24-27  

87.64 

15.865 

II  .75 

13.88 

2.82 

20.66 

SO.  89 

Dung.  . 

Feb   28-March  5  .  . 

128.73 

23.7M 

II  .52 

13-39 

2.8o 

21  .91 

50.38 

STEER  No.  4. 


Refuse. 

Feb.  23-26  

14.67 

10.858 

6.  ii 

S.Q4 

I    19 

35.05 

51  .71 

Refuse. 

Feb.  27-March  4  .  . 

21.38 

15.873 

6.19 

5.66 

1.07 

37-45 

49.63 

Dune. 

Feb   24-27  

76.  s6 

MI42 

11.88 

16  89 

2.43 

14.88 

S3.  92 

Dung.  . 

Feb.  28-March  5  .  . 

123-33 

23.428 

u-33 

M.38 

2.33 

15.61 

56.35 

were  evidently  caused  by  irregularities  in  voiding  the  dung,  and  by  im- 
perfect methods  for  obtaining  uniform  samples  of  the  corn-fodder. 

In  the  following  work  special  precautions  were  taken  to  avoid  these 
possible  sources  of  error.  In  order  to  obtain  uniform  samples  for  feed- 
ing and  for  analysis  the  ears  were  all  separated  from  the  stover.  To 
avoid  as  far  as  possible  imperfect  mastication  of  the  grain  the  ears  were 


iqoo.  ] 


CORN-FODDER    AND    CORN    STOVER. 


363 


ground  to  corn  and  cob  meal.  The  stover  was  run  through  a  cutting 
machine.  To  reduce  the  error  due  to  irregularities  in  voiding  the  dung, 
the  length  of  time  occupied  by  the  experiment  proper  was  extended  to 

TABLE  3.  NUMBER  OF  POUNDS  OF  EACH  NUTRIENT  IN  THE  CORN-FODDER  FED,  IN 
THE  REFUSE,  AND  IN  THE  DUNG,  DURING  A  PERIOD  OF  FOUR  DAYS;  AND  ALSO 
THE  DIGESTION  CO-EFFICIENTS. 


Dry 

matter. 

Ash. 

Pro- 
tein. 

Fat, 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

STEER  No.   i. 


Corn-fodder  fed  

53.77O 

2.757 

4.  361 

i  •  157 

10.993 

34.  5O2 

Amounts  refused  

7-5i6 

.467 

.387 

.070 

2.922 

3.670 

Amounts  eaten  

46.254 

2.290 

3-Q74 

1.087 

8.071 

30.832 

Dung  excreted  

13.833 

1.663 

2.  Ill 

-316 

2.517 

7.226 

Amounts  digested  .... 

32.421 

.627 

1.863 

.771 

5-554 

23.606 

Per  cent,  digested  .... 

70.09 

27.38 

46.88 

70.93 

68.81 

76.56 

STEER  No.  2. 


Corn-fodder  fed  

53.770 

2.757 

4.361 

i  .  157 

10.993 

34.502 

Amounts  refused  

16.982 

-587 

1.596 

•546 

2.363 

i  i  .  890 

Amounts  eaten  

36.788 

2.  I7O 

2.765 

.611 

8.630 

22.612 

Dung  excreted  

iQ-995 

1.504 

1.461 

•  139 

2.302 

5.589 

Amounts  digested  .... 

25-793 

.666 

1-304 

.472 

6.328 

17.023 

Per  cent,  digested  .... 

70.11 

30.69 

47.16 

77.25 

73.33 

75.28 

STEER  No.   3. 


Corn-fodder  fed .  . 
Amounts  refused. 


Amounts  eaten. 
Dung  excreted. 


Amounts  digested 


Per  cent,  digested 


53.770 

7.082 

2.757 
.485 

4-361 
.461 

i-i57 
.091 

10.993 
2.406 

34-502 
3-639 

46.688 

15.865 

2.272 
1.864 

3.900 

2.  2O2 

i.  066 
•447 

8.587 
3-278 

30.863 
8.074 

30.823 

.408 

1.698 

.619 

5-309 

22.789 

66.02 

17.96 

43.54 

58.07 

61.83 

73.84 

STEER  No,   4. 


Corn-fodder  fed  

53.770 

2.757 

4.361 

1.  157 

10.993 

34.502 

Amounts  refused  

10.858 

.663 

.644 

.  129 

3.805 

5-617 

Amounts  eaten  

42.912 

2  .094 

3.717 

1.028 

7.188 

28.885 

Dung  excreted  

14.142 

1.681 

2.389 

•  344 

2.  105 

7.623 

Amounts  digested  .... 

28.770 

.413 

1.328 

.684 

5.083 

21  .262 

Per  cent,  digested  .... 

67.04 

19.72 

35.73 

66.54 

70.72 

73.61 

ten  days.      Tables  2,  3,  and  4  give  the  essential  data  of  the  experiments 
with  corn-fodder. 

Considering  the  fact  that  corn-fodder  is  really  not  a  single  uniform 
food,  but  a  combination  of  grain  and   stover,  the  results  obtained  are 


364 


BULLETIN    NO.     58. 


I  April, 


very  satisfactory.  Table  5  gives  a  general  summary  of  the  digestion 
coefficients  as  obtained  from  each  animal  for  periods  of  four  days,  six 
days,  and  also  for  ten  days,  together  with  the  averages  for  each  period. 

TABLE  4.  NUMBER  OF  POUNDS  OF  EACH  NUTRIENT  IN  THE  CORN -FODDER  FED,  IN  THE 
REFUSE,  AND  IN  THE  DUNG.  DURING  A  PERIOD  OF  Six  DAYS;  AND  ALSO  THE" 
DIGESTION  COEFFICIENT. 


Dry 

matter. 

Ash. 

Protein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

STEER  No.   i. 


Corn-fodder  fed  

81.481 

4  .  I  SO 

6   4^7 

i  .655 

17    2^6 

C2    OO3 

A  mou  n  ts  refused  

13-013 

.822 

.681 

.138 

5-034 

6-338 

Amounts  eaten  

68  .  468 

3.328 

5.756 

1.517 

I  2.  2O2 

45.665 

Dung  excreted  

22.  327 

2-536 

3.281 

•  591 

3-96I 

11.958 

Amounts  digested  

46.  141 

.792 

2.475 

.926 

8.241 

33-707 

Per  cent,  digested  

67.39 

23.80 

43.00 

61.04 

67.54 

73.81 

STEER  No.  2. 


Corn-fodder  fed  

81.481 

4.  150 

6.4^7 

1.655 

17.236 

52.003 

Amounts  refused.  .  . 

23.189 

.746 

2.064 

.674 

3-992 

15-713 

Amounts  eaten  

^8    2Q2 

3  .404 

4.  37? 

.981 

13  244 

36    2QO 

Dung  excreted  

17.739 

2-4*5 

2.391 

•  245 

3.808 

8.880 

Amounts  digested  

40.553 

-989 

1.982 

.736 

9.436 

27.410 

Per  cent,  digested  

69.57 

2905 

45.32 

75.03 

71.25 

75.73 

STEER  No.   3 


Corn-fodder  fed  

81.481 
10.056 

4 

.150 

•594 

6 

-437 
.612 

1.655 
•  I25 

17 

.236 
.655 

52 
5 

.003 
.070 

Amounts  refused   .... 

Amounts  eaten  

71-425          3 

23.714  !     2 

.556 
-732 

5 
3 

-825 
.176 

i.53o        13 
.665          5 

.581 
.  196 

ii 

•933 
-945 

Dung  excreted  

Amounts  digested  

47.711 

.824 

2 

.649            .865          8 

.385 

34 

.988 

Per  cent,  digested  

66.80        23 

.17 

45 

.48        56.54        61 

.74 

74 

.55 

STEER  No.   4. 

Corn-fodder  fed     

81.481 
1:5-873 

4 

.982 
.168 
.655 

6 

-437 
.898 

1.655 
.171 

17 
5 

.236 
-945 

52 
7 

.003 
-877 

Amounts  refused  

Amounts  eaten  

65  608 
23-428 

3 

2 

5 
3 

•  539 
.368 

1.484 
.546 

.938 

ii 

_3 

7 
67 

.291 
.656 

-635 

44 
13 

.  126 

.203 

Dung  excreted  

Amounts  digested  

42.  180 

•513 

2 

.171 

30 

-923 

Per  cent,  digested  

64  29        16 

.19 

39 

.19 

63.21 

.62 

70.09 

For  comparison  the  average  of   the  four  determinations  of  the  digesti- 
bility of  corn-fodder  made  in  1895  are  also  given. 

It  is  observed  that,  by  grinding  the  ears  of  corn-fodder  to  corn  and 
cob  meal  previous  to  feeding,  the  digestibility  of  the  ration  is  much  in- 


i  goo.  ] 


CORN-FODDER    AND    CORN    STOVER. 


365 


creased.  The  digestibility  of  the  total  dry  matter  is  increased  from  61.5 
to  67.5  per  cent.,  making  a  net  increase  of  6  per  cent.  This  gain  is 
chiefly  in  the  protein  and  carbohydrate  extract,  the  digestibility  of  the 
protein  being  increased  6.1  per  cent,  and  that  of  the  carbohydrate  ex- 
tract 8.4  per  cent.  These  two  nutrients  constitute  more  than  90  per 
cent,  of  the  total  dry  matter  of  the  corn  kernel.  The  experimental  data 
here  given  confirm  the  suggestion  made  in  Bulletin  No.  43,  page  200, 
that  the  individual  differences  in  the  ability  of  different  animals  to  digest 
ordinary  corn-fodder  are  due  principally  to  the  more  or  less  incomplete 
mastication  of  the  kernels. 

TABLE  5.     DIGESTION  COEFFICIENTS  FOR  CORN-FODDER. 


Duration  of 
experiment. 

Animals 
employed. 

Dry 

matter. 

Ash. 

Protein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

Four  days  

Steer  No.  i.  . 
Steer  No.  2.  . 
Steer  No.  3.  . 
Steer  No.  4.  . 

70.  i 
70.  i 
66.0 
67.0 

27.4 

30.7 
18.0 
19.7 

46.9 
47-2 
43-5 
35-7 

70.9 

77-3 
58.! 
66.5 

68.8 

73-3 
61.8 
70.7 

76.6 

75-3 
73.8 
73-6 

; 

Average  of  four  trials 

68.3 

23.9 

43.3 

68.2 

68.7    74.8 

Six  days  

Steer  No.  i.. 
Steer  No.  2.  . 
Steer  No.  3.  . 
Steer  No.  4.  . 

67.4 
69.6 
66.8 
64-3 

23.8 
29.  i 
23.2 
16.2 

43-0 
45-3 
45-5 
39-2 

61  .0 
75-0 
56.5 
63.2 

67.5 

71-3 
61.7 
67.6 

73-8 
75-5 
74-8 
70.  i 

Average  of  four  trials 

67.0      23.1 

43.3 

64.0 

67.0    73.5 

Ten  days  

Steer  No.  i.  . 
Steer  No.  2.  . 
Steer  No.  3.  . 
Steer  No.  4.  . 

68.5 
69.8 
66.5 
65-4 

25.3 
29.7 

21.  I 
17.6 

44.6 
46.0 
44-7 
37-* 

65.2 
75-9 
57-2 
64.6 

68.1 
72.1 
61.8 
68.8 

74-9 
75-4 
74-3 
71-5 

Average  of  four  trials 

67.5 

23.4 

43.3 

65.7 

67.7 

74.0 

Average  of  four  trials  made  in  1895. 

61.5        19-4        37-2 

72.4 

66.0 

65.6 

As  the  value  of  corn-fodder  as  a  food-stuff  is  governed  by  its  digesti- 
bility it  follows  that  by  grinding  the  ears  to  corn  and  cob  meal  the  value 
of  corn-fodder  is  increased  about  10  per  cent.,  that  is,  to  each  61.5 
pounds  of  digestible  matter  in  ordinary  corn-fodder  6  pounds  of  digesti- 
ble matter  are  added  by  grinding  the  ears.  As  the  ears  constitute  only 
about  one-half  of  the  edible  portion  of  corn-fodder  (52  per  cent,  in 
these  experiments),  it  follows  that  the  nutritive  value  of  ear  corn  is  in- 
creased nearly  20  per  cent,  by  grinding.  By  reference  to  Bulletin  No. 
43,  page  205,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  nutritive  value  of  shelled  corn  for 
hogs  is  increased  nearly  10  per  cent,  by  grinding. 


366 


BULLETIN    NO.    58. 


DIGESTIBILITY  OF  CORN  STOVER. 

By  corn  stover  is  meant  corn-fodder  less  the  ears  ;thatis,  the  stalks 
with  tassels,  leaves,  and  husks,  the  ears  only  having  been  removed.  The 
stover  used  in  these  experiments  was  run  through  a  cutting  machine  be- 

TABLE  6.  NUMBER  OF  POUNDS  (  BOTH  FRESH  AND  DRY  )  OF  CORN  STOVER  FED,  OF 
REFUSE,  AND  OF  DUNG,  FOR  EACH  STEER,  AND  ALSO  THE  PERCENTAGE  COM- 
POSITION OF  THE  DRY  MATTER. 


Date. 

Amounts,  pounds. 

Composition  of  dry  matter,  percentages. 

1897. 

Fresh 
sub- 
stance. 

Dry 
matter. 

1 
Ash.     Protein.    Fat. 

!             1        .         ! 

Carbo- 
Fiber.   hydrate 
extract. 

STEER  No.   i. 


Feed.... 
Feed.... 

March  16-19..  .  . 
March  20-25..  •  • 

63-50 
93.00 

5L936 
75-730 

8.64 
8.38 

6.40 
6.36 

1.04 

•99 

33-53 
33-71 

50.39 
50.56 

Refuse  .  . 
Refuse  .  . 

March  16-19..  .  . 
March  20-25..  •  • 

26.11 

33-22 

19.  121 
25.128 

6.85 
6.05 

5-05 

4-72. 

-94 

.88 

38.45 
39-58 

48.71 
48.77 

Dung..  .  . 
Dung..  .  . 

March  17-20..  .  . 
March  21-26..  .  . 

79-57 
127.10 

13.559 
21.239 

18.40 
17.85 

10.73 
10.65 

I  .21 
1-25 

21.87 
22.23 

47-79 
48.02 

STEER  No.   2. 


Feed.... 
Feed  .... 

March  16-19  .  .  . 
March  20-25  .  •  • 

64.00 
90.00 

52.345 
73-094  ! 

8.64 
8.38 

6.40 
6.36 

i  .04 

-99 

33-53 
33-71 

50.39 
50.56 

Refuse  .  . 
Refuse  .  . 

March  16-19..  •  • 
March  20-25..  .  . 

27.66 
33.o8 

20.853 
25-358 

6.67 

6.  12 

5-24 
4.84 

•  91 
•  91 

38.46 
39-38 

48.72 
48.75 

Dung  
Dung..  .  . 

March  17-20..  .  . 
March  21-26..  .  . 

70.70 
103.10 

12.793 
18.940 

17.99 

:  18.67 

ii  .06 
11.41 

1.09 

1.27 

20.98 
19.89 

48.88 
48.76 

STEER  No.  3. 


Feed,.  .  .  . 
Feed  .... 

March  16-19..  •  • 
March  20-25..  - 

64-25 
95-00 

52-549 
77-154 

8.64 
8.38 

6.40 
6.36 

I  .04 

•  99 

33-53 
33-71 

50-39 
50.56 

Refuse  .  . 
Refuse  .  . 

March  16-19  — 
March  20-25..  •  • 

25-53 
32.69 

19.469 
25.I37 

6.98 

6.35 

5-48 
4.91 

.85 
-85 

37.62 
38.65 

49.07 
49.24 

Dung...  . 
Dung..  .  . 

March  17-20..  .  . 
March  21-26..  .  . 

77-83 
117.63 

14.490 

21  .830 

16.08 
16.30 

9-73 

10.12 

i  .06 
1.14 

24.75 
23-85 

48.38 
48.59 

STEER  No.  4. 


Feed.... 
Feed... 

March  16-19..  •  • 
March  20-25..  •  • 

63.00 
96.00 

51-527 
77.966 

8.64 
8.38 

6.40 
6.36 

1.04 

-99 

33-53 
33.71 

50.39 
50.56 

Refuse  .  . 
Refuse  .  . 

March  16-19  
March  20-25..  •  • 

25.19 
31-25 

18.166 
23.143 

6.75 
5.98 

5.01 
4-33 

.87 
.85 

37-97 
39.28 

49.40 
49.56 

Dung..  .  . 
Dung..  .  . 

March  17-20..  .  . 
March  21-26..  .  . 

95-96 
165.31 

13.922 
23.600 

19.19 

:  17.97 

10.84 
11.07 

I.  10 
I.  IO 

20.77 
21.88 

48.10 
47.98 

fore  it  was  fed.     The  essential  data  from   the  experiments  with   corn 
stover  appears  in  Tables  6,  7,  and  8. 

Table  9  gives  a  general  summary  of  the  digestion  coefficients  for 
corn  stover  as  obtained  from  each  animal  for  periods  of  four  days,  six 
days,  and  ten  days,  and  also  the  average  of  the  four  trials  for  each 
period.  The  results  obtained  are  in  close  agreement  with  all  of  the 


/poo.] 


CORN-FODDER    AND    CORN    STOVKK. 


367 


principal  constituents.  For  comparison  the  digestibility  of  corn  stover 
by  cattle  as  determined  by  the  Pennsylvania  Experiment  Station  is  given 
in  Table  10  (See  Pa.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  No.  3). 

The  average  digestibility  of  the  total  dry  matter  is  62.0  per  cent  , 

TABLE  7.  NUMBER  OF  POUNDS  OF  EACH  NUTRIENT  IN  THE  CORN  STOVER  FED,  IN 
THE  REFUSE,  AND  IN  THE  DUNG,  DURING  A  PERIOD  OF  FOUR  DAYS;  AND  ALSO 
THE  DIGESTION  COEFFICIENTS. 


Dry 
matter. 

Ash. 

Protein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract 

STEER  No.   i. 

Corn  stover  fed  

51  .936 

4.486 

3.326 

.542 

17.413 

26.  169 

Amounts  refused  

19.  121 

1.309 

.965 

.180 

7-353 

9-3M 

Amounts  eaten  

32.815 

3-  T77 

2.361 

.  362 

10.060 

16.855 

Dung  excreted  

13.559 

2.495 

1-455 

-163 

2.965 

6.481 

Amounts  digested  

19.256 

.682 

.906 

.199 

7-095 

10-374 

Per  cent,  digested.  .  .  . 

58.68 

21.47 

38.37 

54.97 

70.53 

61.55 

STEER  No.  2. 


Corn  stover  fed  

S2.  245 

4-  521 

3.  3S3 

.  546 

17.  550 

26.  375 

Amounts  refused  

20.853 

1.390 

1  .092 

.189 

8.019 

10.  163 

Amounts  eaten  .'  

31  .492 

3.I3I 

2.261 

•  357 

9.531 

I6.2I2 

Dung  excreted  

12.793 

J2-302 

1.415 

.  140 

2.684 

6.252 

Amounts  digested  

18.699 

.829 

.846 

.217 

6.847 

9.960 

Per  cent,  digested  .... 

59.38 

26.48 

37.42 

60.78 

71.84 

61.44 

STEER  No.  3. 


Corn  stover  fed  

s.2    S4Q 

4      C7Q 

3     ^65 

548 

17  618 

26    47Q 

Amounts  refused  

19.469 

1-359 

i.  068 

.166 

7.324 

9-552, 

Amounts  eaten  

33.080 

3.180 

2.2Q7 

382 

IO    2Q4 

16  027 

Dung  excreted  

14.490 

2.329 

I  .410 

•  153 

3.586 

7.012 

Amounts  digested  

18.590 

-851 

.887 

.229 

0.708 

9.915 

Per  cent    digested  .... 

56.20 

26.76 

38.62 

59.95 

65.16 

58.58 

STEER  No.  4. 


Corn  stover  fed  

51  -527 

4.451 

3.299 

.538 

17  275 

2S    064 

Amounts  refused  

18.166 

i  .226 

.910 

.158 

6.897 

8.975 

Amounts  eaten  

3S  361 

3    22"? 

2.389 

380 

10  ^78 

l6.Q8Q 

Dung  excreted  

13.922 

2.672 

1.509 

•  153 

2.892 

6.696 

Amounts  digested  

19-439 

-553 

.880 

.227 

7.486 

10.293 

Per  cent,  digested  

58.27 

17.15 

36  84 

59.74 

72.13 

60.59 

as  determined  by  the  Pennsylvania  experiments,  while  our  result  gives 
58.2  per  cent.  The  average  of  both  is  60.  i  per  cent.  Of  the  several 
constituents  of  the  dry  matter,  the  ash,  protein,  and  carbohydrate  ex- 
tract gave  higher  digestion  coefficients  in  the  Pennsylvania  experiments, 
while  the  fat  and  fiber  show  higher  coefficients  in  our  results. 


368 


BULLETIN    NO.     58. 


[April, 


TABLE  8.  NUMBER  OF  POUNDS  OF  EACH  NUTRIENT  IN  THE  CORN  STOVER  FED,  IN 
THE  REFUSE,  AND  IN  THE  DUNG,  DURING  A  PERIOD  OF  six  DAYS;  AND  ALSO 
THE  DIGESTION  COEFFICIENTS. 


Dry 
matter. 

Ash. 

Protein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

STEER  No.   i. 


Corn  stover  fed  

75-53° 

6.333 

4.807 

.747 

25    461 

38  182 

Amounts  refused  

25.  128 

i.  519 

1.186 

.222 

9-945 

12.256 

Amounts  eaten  

so.  402 

4.814 

3.621 

.  525 

1C     ei6 

Dung  excreted  

21  .239 

3-791 

2.263 

.266 

4.721 

10.198 

Amounts  digested  

29.  163 

1.023 

1.358 

-259 

10.795 

15.728 

Per  cent   digested.  . 

57.86 

21.25 

37.50 

49.33 

69.57 

60.66 

STEER  No.   2. 


Corn  stover  fed  

73.094 

6.128 

4.652 

.723 

24.64O 

36.QCT 

Amounts  refused  

25.358 

1.553 

1.228 

.230 

9.987 

12.360 

Amounts  eaten   

47.736 

4-575 

3.424 

-4Q3 

M.653 

24    5QI 

Dung  excreted  

18.940 

3.536 

2.161 

.240 

3-767 

9.236 

Amounts  digested  

28.796 

1.039 

1.263 

-253 

10.886 

15-355 

Per  cent,  digested  .... 

60.32 

22.71 

36.89 

51.32 

74.29 

62.44 

STEER  No.  3. 


Corn  stover  fed  

77-  J54 

6.460 

4.910 

•  763 

26  .  009 

39.003 

Amounts  refused  

25.137 

1-595 

1-235 

.213 

9-714 

12.380 

Amounts  eaten  

52.017 

4.874 

3.675 

•  55° 

1^.295 

26.623 

Dung  excreted  

21  .830 

3.558 

2.210 

.248 

5.206 

10.608 

Amounts  digested  

30.187 

i  .316 

1.465 

.302 

11.089 

16.015 

Per  cent,  digested  

58.03 

27.00 

39.86 

54.91 

68.05 

60.15 

STEER  No.  4. 


Corn  stover  fed  

77.966 

6.  537 

4.962 

.771 

26.282 

39.414 

Amounts  refused  

23-143 

1.384 

i  .003 

.197 

9.091 

i  i  .  468 

Amounts  eaten  

54.823 

5-153 

3-959 

•574 

17.191 

27.946 

Dung  excreted  

23.600 

4.241 

2.613 

.260 

5-l63 

11-323 

Amounts  digested  

31-223 

.912 

1.346 

.314 

12.028 

16.623 

Per  cent,  digested  

56.95 

17.17 

34.00 

54.70 

69.97 

59.48 

i  goo.  ] 


CORN-FODDER    AND    CORN    STOVER. 


369 


TABLE  9      DIGESTION  COEFFICIENTS  FOR  CORN  STOVER. 


Duration  of 
experiment. 

Animals 
employed. 

Dry 
matter. 

Ash. 

Protein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

Four  days  

Steer  No.  i.  . 
Steer  No.  2.  . 

58.7 
59.4 

21.5 
26.5 

38.4 
37.4 

55-o 
60.8 

70.5 
71.8 

61.6 
61  .4 

Steer  No.  3.  . 
Steer  No.  4.  . 

56.2 
58.3 

26.8 
17.2 

38.6 
36.8 

60.0 
59-7 

65.2 
72.  i 

58.6 
60.6 

Average  of  four  trials 

58  1 

23.0 

37  8 

58  9 

69  9 

60  5 

Six  days  

Steer  No.  i  .  . 
Steer  No.  2.. 

57-9 
60.3 

21.3 
22.7 

37-5 
36.9 

49-3 
51-3 

69.6 
74-3 

60.7 
62.4 

Steer  No.  3.  . 
Steer  No.  4.  . 

58.0 
57-0 

27.0 
17.7 

39-9 
34-0 

54-9 
54-7 

68.1 
70.0 

60.2 
59-5 

Average  of  four  trials 

58.3 

22.2 

37.1 

52.6 

70.5 

60  7 

• 

Ten  days  

Steer  No.  i.  . 
Steer  No.  2.  . 

58.2 
60.0 

21.3 
24.2 

37-9 
37-1 

51.6 

55-3 

70.0 
73-3 

61  .0 
62.0 

Steer  No.  3.  . 
Steer  No  4.  . 

57-3 
57-5 

26.9 
i7-5 

39-4 
35-i 

57.0 
56.7 

66.9 
70.8 

59-5 
59-9 

Average  of  four  trials 

58.2 

22.5 

37.4 

55.2 

70.3 

60.6 

TABLE  10.     DIGESTION  COEFFICIENTS  FOR  CORN  STOVER. 


Duration  of 
experiment. 

Animals 
employed. 

Dry 
matter. 

Ash. 

Protein. 

Fat. 

Fiber. 

Carbo- 
hydrate 
extract. 

Ten  days  .  .  . 

Steer  No.  i 
Steer  No.  2 

62.0 
62.4 

41.9 
42.6 

49-7 
49-7 

50.5 
48.1 

67.4 
68.3 

64.2 
64.4 

Average  of  two  trials  

62.2 

42.3 

49.7 

49.3 

67.9 

64.3 

Ten  days  .  .  . 

Steer  No.  i 
Steer  No.  2 

62.4 
61.1 

48.9 
46.2 

54-8 
52.8 

54-3 
55-8 

64.9 
65.2 

64-5 
62.5 

Average  of  two  trials  

61.8 

47.6 

53.8 

55.1 

65.1 

63.5 

Average  for  twenty  days.  . 

62.0 

45.0 

51.8 

52.2 

66.5 

63.9 

370  BULLETIN  NO.    57.  \_March,  /poo. 

SUMMARY. 

When  the  ears  are  ground  to  corn  and  cob  meal,  corn-fodder  shows 
a  higher  percentage  of  digestibility  than  any  other  common  coarse  food 
stuff,  the  digestibility  of  the  dry  matter  being  8  per  cent,  higher  than 
timothy  hay  and  14  per  cent,  higher  than  clover  hay  (see  Bulletin  No. 
43,  page  205). 

The  total  digestibility  of  corn-fodder  is  increased  6  per  cent,  by 
grinding  the  ears  to  corn  and  cob  meal  previous  to  feeding  ;  while  the 
value  of  the  ears  alone  is  increased  nearly  20  per  cent,  by  grinding. 

In  both  its  composition  and  digestibility  corn  stover  closely  resem- 
bles timothy  hay,  and  the  edible  portion  of  the  stover  has  a  nutritive 
value  fully  equal  to  that  of  timothy. 

CYRIL  GEORGE  HOPKINS,  M.  S.,  Ph.D., 

Chemist. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


